Josh was out of town last week on business. I was lonely-this was the longest we have been apart since we started dating. I tried to keep busy with work, the gym, the blog, etc. but I just missed my hubs. Luckily, one of my best buds came to the rescue. She always knows how to cheer me up. We enjoyed an evening of good food, conversation, and laughs. It was just what I needed.
Before we were both married, we were roomies and used to cook together all of the time. We’ve created a lot of tasty dishes, but vegetable spring rolls with peanut sauce are our favorite.
For the spring rolls, we used carrots, green and red peppers, cucumber, lettuce, and cilantro. I’ve used Thai basil and mint before-instead of the cilantro, they are all excellent. We used round rice paper sheets for the base of the rolls and Asian rice vermicelli noodles for the filling. Most stores have an Asian section, if you can’t find these items there, check your area to see if there is an Asian market nearby. I love visiting our local Asian market-great prices and fun finds.
The spring rolls are good, but the peanut dipping sauce is the BEST! I can’t even describe how good it is, there are no words. I could drink it by the gallon. Peanut butter, lemon grass, ginger, garlic, hoison sauce-all of these flavors work so well together. Try this sauce and let me know what you think. I am confident it will be your new “go to” peanut sauce. I have never tasted better.
We had a great time recreating one of our favorite recipes together. The spring rolls are a great appetizer, healthy snack, or light meal. Serve these up at your Super Bowl Party for something fresh and healthy. Your guests will love them.
If Josh wasn’t allergic to peanut butter, I would probably eat these every day. He is home now (yea!) and I made sure to leave no evidence of peanut sauce, but that wasn’t hard:)
For tips on how to roll fresh spring rolls visit The White on Rice Couple’s blog. They have a great tutorial post. You can add chicken, pork, or shrimp, but the veggies are good enough for me!
Vegetable Spring Rolls with Peanut Dipping Sauce
1 carrot, peeled and cut into long matchsticks
1 green pepper, cut into long matchsticks
1 red pepper, cut into long matchsticks
1 cucumber, cut into long matchsticks
Romaine lettuce leaves
6 ounces Asian rice vermicelli noodles
Round rice sheets
Sprigs of cilantro and/or Thai basil, mint
1. Chop all of the veggies and set aside.
2. Boil and drain noodles per package instructions. Cool under water. Set aside.
3. One at a time, soak rice sheets into warm water to soften. Use a shallow dish or pie plate for this step. Lay a rice sheet on a towel covered work surface. Working quickly, place some noodles, vegetables, lettuce, and a few herb leaves on the near side of the rice round. Roll mixture forward (in egg roll fashion) one revolution then add additional vegetables. Tuck ends inward and finish the roll. Continue making rolls until ingredients are exhausted.
For Peanut Dipping Sauce:
1 small piece of lemon grass, chopped
Freshly grated ginger-to taste
1 cup water
½ cup hoisin sauce
3 tablespoons smooth peanut butter
1½ tablespoons sugar
In a small sauce pan, simmer lemon grass in the water for 5 minutes, strain out the lemongrass and add the remaining ingredients to the water. Whisk well and simmer an additional 5 minutes. If the sauce doesn’t thicken, whisk for one minute over medium heat. Pour into individual serving cups and serve with spring rolls.
If you like these spring rolls, you might also like:
Curry Tofu and Basil Spring Rolls from White on Rice Couple
Grilled Pork Spring Rolls from ChezUs
Spring Roll Salad from 101 Cookbooks
{ 5 trackbacks }
{ 87 comments… read them below or add one }
← Previous Comments
These look so good, fresh and vibrant! But the best part is the PB Sauce! One of my favorite things in the entire world.
You were roomies? I think that’s so sweet!
Glad he’s back!
This reminds me so much of the Filipino version (it has carrots and hearts of palm inside, and garlic in the peanut sauce). It looks sooo delicious and I need my veggies now!
This is a timely post since I just visited our local Asian Market earlier this week and picked up some rice sheets.
These look so great. Awesome job with the rolling. I love spring rolls, but have never tried to make them at home.
I love making spring rolls but I’ve been too much of a wimp to try the rice vermicelli noodles…
So colourful, refreshing and delicious.Your dipping sauce looks great too
These look so wonderful and fresh. Very nice
Oh my. These look sooo tasty, and your photo is phenomenal!
Oh goodness. I just really appreciate pretty julienne cutting skills and you knocked out those veggies like no one else’s business.
Stunning!
My husband would love these.
Yumm…reminds me of the spring rolls which were our favorite at an Asian restaurant while we were in school at Penn State.
Wonderful blog!
Oh my, these look sensational!! I love spring rolls, but have never had them with peanut sauce. I will definitely be trying it. Gorgeous photos too!
Great pics! These looks so fresh and healthy
Haha – my salad has NOTHING on these babies!!
These are beautiful! I love peanut sauce… One of my favorites. Usually I make it with grilled chicken, but I think I will have to give these veggie rolls a try!
Your spring rolls look so colorful and healthful, too. I agree that many would appreciate these rolls at a Super Bowl party. I had a delicious spring roll last night at a Mpls. restaurant. It was filled with shrimp, crab, cucumber, laid on cilantro pesto and was drizzled with shrimp vinaigrette. It was so good.
Mmmmmm…I keep saying that I’m going to make summer rolls and just don’t. I have GOT to do it soon. These look great!
My goodess. Your pictures are so beautiful, I want to cry!
The spring rolls look out of this world. I would eat a dozen of them, I’m sure.
The spring rolls are beautiful, but the peanut sauce sounds addicting. No peanut allergies here, so I’ll try this one for sure. Thanks for the recipe!
Wow! What a beautiful blog! The pics are gorgeous, very professional. I Love the Spring Rolls, they are a favorite at my house. Yours look especially good.
Beautiful wedding photo, it made me smile
Thanks for visiting my blog.
Pam
I love spring rolls and these look so vibrant and fresh. I have to try that dipping sauce!
BTW-Thomas is almost done!
Love to make Spring Rolls but never thought to make a Peanut Dipping Sauce! Great idea!
The lead photo for this recipe is just arresting. The bright colors of the interior of that spring roll just stopped me dead in my speed reading: WHAT. IS. THAT? I asked myself. Gorgeous. Thanks for sharing.
Gorgeous click. Such lovely colours!
I just want to make them because of the picture. Well, I love Spring rolls and peanut sauce. I just have to be cautious because of potential allergies for my children. But will make it just for me and my husband!!
Maria, beautiful pictures. Just beautiful. I’ve never made spring rolls, but you’ve inspired me.
What gorgeous pictures! I love how healthy these are the peanut sauce sounds delicious!
Yum, these look SO good to me. I’d have to figure out a way for my guys to all think it was enough of a meal, or add something else, but I want some. When I move to Utah, will you be my friend and make some with me?
These are gorgeous and sound delicious! I can’t wait to try!
Hi Maria – You should know that this site is using your image, possibly without your permission. They appropriated one of mine as well (and have since taken it down). Since they derive revenue from ads on their site, I thought you should know that someone is making money on your work.
http://www.happyhappyjoyjoy.net/2010/01/vegetable-spring-rolls-with-peanut-dipping-sauce-two-peas-and-their-pod/
I LOVE making fresh spring rolls. There are so fun to make and much cheaper than buying them at a take out Thai or Vietnamese restaurant!
Also, your photos are absolutely phenomenal. Great job!
those look amazing!
thus is one of my favorite things to make! i could eat them all summer long. yum!
These look TO-DIE-FOR!
those look good! i’m going to try them this weekend. they look so easy.
These look so good. Great photos too! I like the addition of the peppers. I will try this peanut sauce for sure.
I love spring rolls, these are great!
← Previous Comments